Talk of the Town: Green space always precious in Porty

THE good people of Portobello have built a reputation for standing up for what they believe in – with no clearer an example than the current dispute over a new high school in the town.

Campaigners looking to protect Portobello Park from development have claimed success in the most recent battle – but a dig in newspaper archives reveals that the green space has always been precious to some locals.

A letter to our sister paper The Scotsman dated May 14, 1900 bemoans plans to build the current golf course.

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It reads: “I protest against any such proposal as using Portobello Public Park for a golf course. I do hope that citizens will join me in using their influence against the misuse of this fine park.”

The author, James T Carmichael, was clearly a man ahead of his time.

How do you like your coffee? Hot and spicy?

MANY coffee lovers will tell you that the hotter it is, the better. So there will be few complaints from those who turn up at Nachos Fiesta in Fountain Park tomorrow.

It’s hosting a special event as part of Macmillan Cancer Support’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning 2012 and to mark the occasion is creating a sweet and spicy combination known as a Chili-Cino.

Jules Reeley, company director at Nachos Fiesta, says: “There will be something for everyone – coffee, cupcakes, competitions and for those who are brave enough – our own spicy Chilli-Cino.”

The fundraiser gets under way at 10am. Talk of the Town welcomes reviews of the bold brew via the addresses below.

Snap up star’s early years

SINCE claiming his first Grand Slam title in New York last week, Andy Murray is no doubt being inundated by agents and companies looking to make a fast buck off his success.

So spare a thought for the Capital’s branch of Blackwells book shop, which has a batch of biographies of the tennis star to shift – which would no doubt be flying off the shelves had they not been published in 2005.

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Still, the store has knocked £2 off the cover price – can’t say fairer than that.

Can you spot a liar?

THE search for Britain’s brightest has reached the Capital – but this one isn’t for pub quiz gurus.

Instead, a new BBC show wants to hear from people who can remember their friends’ phone numbers and spot a liar.

“You could win thousands,” Auntie tells us, by e-mailing [email protected]